NASA unveils $250,000 Moon Regolith Oxygen challenge

NASA announced a challenge to invent a way to extract breathable oxygen from lunar soil. Participants of the Moon Regolith Oxygen challenge will have eight hours to extract at least 11 pounds of breathable oxygen from a simulated form of lunar soil.

"The use of resources on other worlds is a key element of the Vision for Space Exploration," said NASA Associate Administrator for Exploration Craig Steidle in a statement. "This challenge will reach out to inventors who can help us achieve the vision sooner."

The Moon Regolith Oxygen challenge offers a $250,000 prize and ends on June 1, 2008. More details at Wired